5 Reasons You Can’t Miss the Smoky Mountain Winterfest This Holiday Season

November 10, 2023

Winter is coming! Which also means it is time for Smoky Mountain Winterfest. This winter festival is one of the longest running festivals in the Smokies. It lasts for four months, giving visitors from early November to late February a chance to see the town draped in Christmas lights and decorations. You can enjoy the festival’s lights, watch a show, and finish all your Christmas shopping while you’re here for the festival. Here are 5 reasons you can’t miss the Smoky Mountain Winterfest this holiday season:

1. The Dazzling Christmas Lights

The Christmas lights displays are back and better than ever! When the sun goes down, the town will be illuminated in millions of bright Christmas lights for you and your family to enjoy. Load up in the car with your family and friends and take a drive down the Parkway to see all the beautiful lights, or let someone else do the driving and go for a ride on the Pigeon Forge Trolley! You'll be surrounded by beautiful scenery and lights everywhere you turn in the Smoky Mountains.

2. Go See Jolly Christmas Shows

You can watch one of the Smokies’ grand Christmas productions at a number of attractions this year! The country music lovers in your family will love the Country Tonite Christmas show , where you’ll get to see tons of fun musical numbers and classic holiday characters take the stage. Your family will enjoy dancing and singing along to traditional Christmas songs featured throughout the show.  Other popular Christmas shows in the area include Dolly Parton's Stampede, Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Feud, and The Comedy Barn. No matter what show you choose, you’ll get to see some of the most talented performers the Smoky Mountains have to offer.

3. You’ll Be Helping Out the Community

Some Smoky Mountain Winterfest events, like the Festival of Trees, benefit the Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg community. All the proceeds from the event will go to the Boys and Girls Club of the Smoky Mountains . You and your family can enjoy seeing all the amazing Christmas trees decorated with different themes at the event and you’ll also be doing some good in the process!

4. See the Amazing Snow Covered Mountains

There is nothing like getting to see the snow covered peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains! You’ll know winter is here when you see this breathtaking sight! When you come for the Smoky Mountain Winterfest, you’ll have a chance to be surrounded by these one-of-a-kind views that will make even the biggest Grinches smile! Don’t miss these picturesque mountain views on your next trip to the Smokies! The best time to see snow in the Smokies is typically January and February, which are the coldest months of the year.

5. Get in the Holiday Spirit

It’s easy to get in the holiday spirit when you’re driving around the Smokies looking at the festive Christmas lights and decorations. You’ll continue to feel the holiday spirit all over town at all the amazing restaurants and attractions you visit. Many of the attractions put on special Winterfest-themed events for visitors to enjoy. You can go to Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas and The Island in Pigeon Forge, or experience Anakeesta's Enchanted Christmas or Lights Over Gatlinburg at the SkyPark! There are no bad choices when it comes to holiday events in the Smokies! It’s a great place to create beautiful memories with the ones you love the most!

Where to Stay

When you're looking for the perfect place to stay to experience Smoky Mountain Winterfest, look no further than our Smoky Mountain cabins. We have affordable cabins of all sizes so that everyone can enjoy a peaceful winter vacation in the Smokies. You'll love staring out at the beautiful mountains from the comfort of your cabin's deck, or curling up in front of the fire indoors. Some of our cabins are even decorated for Christmas, so you'll have no problem getting into the Christmas spirit.

Make sure you don’t miss out on this year’s Smoky Mountain Winterfest and start planning your winter vacation to the Smokies now! Take a look at all of our Smoky Mountain cabins and find the perfect one for your stay. We look forward to seeing you!